Boris Johnson vows to fight David Davis’ plans to pay into EU’s coffers and exposes split at the heart of Government
Mr Davis is thought to have teamed up with Chancellor Philip Hammond to achieve a 'grey Brexit'
BORIS Johnson exposed a massive split at the heart of Government after declaring he would fight Britain paying into EU coffers.
The Foreign Secretary stoked Cabinet tensions by saying he saw “no reason” why the UK should continue to pay “large” amounts to Brussels for continued access to the single market.
His views contradict those of Brexit Secretary David Davis who revealed last week the UK would consider paying in once we’d quit the EU in order to get the best access.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show he shrugged off his Cabinet colleague’s suggestion Britain could pay in as “pure speculation”.
He said: “That is something that obviously David Davis is considering. It doesn’t mean that a decision has been taken.”
Mr Davis had angered some pro-Brexit Tories when he told MPs on Thursday the “major criterion” in such a decision would be obtaining “the best possible access for goods and services” to the European market.
It fuelled suspicion the PM was veering towards a so-called “soft” Brexit.
But the Foreign Secretary insisted Britain’s withdrawal from the EU would mean the return of “very large sums of money” to be spent by the Government on UK priorities such as the NHS.
He said: “I do believe that as a result of Brexit we will be able to take back control of the money that we currently give to Brussels.
“Very large sums of money will be coming back to this country which will be capable of being spent on priorities such as the NHS. That will be one of the outcomes of Brexit.”
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And he suggested any continuing payments to Brussels should be “sensible” and limited to small scale projects like the student exchange programmes or research projects.
He added: “I see no reason why those payments should be large.”
Questioned on immigration he said he wanted a reduction but risked clashing with the PM by calling for student numbers to be dropped from the official migration figures.
Removing them would lower the migration figures as many international students are only in Britain temporarily.
He told ITV’s Peston on Sunday: “I do take that view and I think it’s of massive benefit to this country.”
Chancellor Philip Hammond was slapped down by No10 after he revealed to MPs in October the idea was being discussed.
It’s been suggested Mr Davis has teamed up with pro-Remain Chancellor Philip Hammond and No 10 to achieve a “grey Brexit” avoiding the extremes of either a “hard” or a “soft” break with the EU.